Beşiktaş travels to Scotland for a high-stakes UEFA Europa League clash against Celtic at Celtic Park, with data from Transfermarkt highlighting a substantial disparity in squad market values between the two clubs. The match, scheduled for this evening at 23:00 TSİ, represents a critical juncture for both teams as they look to solidify their positions in the competition’s league phase.
Beşiktaş enters the contest with positive momentum in Europe, having secured 7 points from their opening three matches. The Turkish side claimed victories against Marseille (4-1) and Hoffenheim (3-2), followed by a 2-2 draw with Crystal Palace. In contrast, Celtic remains in search of its first point in the tournament, a situation that manager Vincenzo Italiano noted during his pre-match press conference.
Vincenzo Italiano Prepares for Tactical Adjustments
Beşiktaş manager Vincenzo Italiano acknowledged the difficulty of the upcoming fixture, pointing to the intense atmosphere expected at Celtic Park. Speaking to the press, Italiano emphasized that while he is satisfied with his team’s European performance thus far, he plans to implement changes to his lineup to manage player fatigue, particularly with a domestic match following on Sunday. “Celtic is a team that needs points. It will be a difficult job,” Italiano said, as reported by Cumhuriyet.
The manager also provided updates on key personnel, confirming that captain Orkun Kökçü has been included in the traveling squad after recovering from injury. Italiano highlighted the importance of collective trust within the squad, stating that he aims to integrate his offensive players effectively into the system for this European test.
Hyeon-gyu Oh Returns to Familiar Ground
The match holds personal significance for Beşiktaş forward Hyeon-gyu Oh, who returns to Celtic Park as an opponent. The South Korean international, who played for Celtic between 2022 and 2024, expressed complex emotions regarding his return to his former home. “I am incredibly excited and have been looking forward to this match for about two months,” Oh told reporters, as documented by Sözcü Gazetesi. While acknowledging his professional commitment to the Beşiktaş cause, the striker admitted that scoring against his former club would be an emotional moment.
German Officials to Referee Match Broadcast on TRT 1
The encounter between Celtic and Beşiktaş will be officiated by a team from the German Football Federation, led by referee Sascha Stegemann. He will be assisted by Christof Günsch and Marco Achmüller. For viewers in Turkey, the match will be broadcast live and free-to-air on TRT 1.
Projected Starting Lineups
Beşiktaş’ın Celtic maçı muhtemel 11’leri şu şekildedir:
- Celtic: Johnstone, Donovan, Carter-Vickers, Scales, Tierney, McGregor, Baur, Hassan, Nygren, Osmand, Duran
- Beşiktaş: Nübel, Rıdvan, Emirhan, Agbadou, Murillo, Trossard, Ndidi, Olaitan, Cerny, Vlahovic
The traveling Beşiktaş squad also includes Doğan Alemdar, Emir Yaşar, Salih Özcan, Kartal Kayra Yılmaz, Kassoum Outtara, Ernest Poku, Vaclav Cerny, Taylan Bulut, İlhan Fakılı, Tiago Djalo, Emirhan Topçu, Yasin Özcan, Amir Murillo, Ahmer Sami Bircan, and Semih Kılıçsoy.
European Performance Context
Beşiktaş has secured seven wins across its nine European matches this season, including qualifying rounds. The team’s journey involved victories over Midtjylland and Hradec Kralove, along with a play-off round win against Kauno Zalgiris. As they prepare for the fourth week of the UEFA Europa League, the focus remains on maintaining the concentration levels that have characterized their European outings, which Italiano noted differ from the dynamics of domestic league play.
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